Detailers... What's what?

[rmpotocki]

What is the difference between the different detailer sprays? I'v easked aroudn at local supply stores and body shop suppliers, but cannot get definitive answers.

There are:
Consumer (Meguiar's Brand): Quick Detailer
Professional (Mirror Glaze): Final Inspection
Professional (Detailer Brand): Last Touch

What's the difference and why/when would I use one over the other?

Thanks.

[Setec Astronomy]

Don't forget the NXT Speed Detailer. The major difference is that the Final Inspection is body shop safe. The FI and LT are also available in gallons.

[Mike Phillips]

I know this is answered in the FAQ on www.meguiars.com and the question has been asked numerous times on this forum, let me try to do some searching using the term

difference quick detailer

and see if I can come up with something versus typing up the same information.

[Mike Phillips]

Try this link to start with,

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sho...&threadid=4643


I've moved the above thread into the Hot Topics forum where I will elaborate on my initial answer to create the definitive thread on mist & wipe products.

Hope this helps...

[rmpotocki]

Thanks, Mike and Mike. But I am looking for more detail. This is what I've got so far:

Consumer (Meguiar's brand):
Quick Detailer: Removes fine scratches on clear coat paints, enhances color and extends the durability of car wax. Nice gloss and slickness, best selling detailer in it's class. Too slick by itself for Claying, so should be cut 1:1 (according to these forums).

NTX Speed Detailer: Enhances protection and maintain your “just waxed” look with Engineered Synthetic Polymers. Our technologically advanced formula removes fresh contaminants and safely lifts away dirt and grime without scratching the surface. Advanced polymers enhance your paint’s protection while amping up gloss. Higher gloss and slickness than Quick Detailer. I assume this must be cut even more than Quick Detailer in order to use with Clay?

Professional (Mirror Glaze):
M34 Final Inspection: Use to evaluate paint repairs, or to look for surface defects. Ideal for use before customer delivery. Body shop safe. Have no idea why you would choose this over the previous two except for ability to buy in bulk quantity.

Professional (Detailer Brand):
Last Touch: produces incredible depth, shine and gloss. This spray-on, wipe-off product has a unique blend of polymeric lubricating agents that gently removes dust, fingerprints, smudges and other contaminants, leaving a flawless, showroom shine. This sounds like it's the best product of them all, according to the description. What is the dilution ratio for using with Clay?

=====

So, it sounds like NTX is better than Quick Detailer because, after all, you want a great shine. Because Speed Detailer is slicker, does that mean there's more "grease/polymer" in it?

Is Last Touch the same thing as Final Inspection and/or Quick Detailer? Is the major difference the volume (quantity) the product is sold in?

Ultimately, if you have access to all five products, which one would you buy and why?

If something is marked as "Body Shop Safe," then doesn't that just mean you can use it on the car surface and (without a degreaser) paint over it without worrying about paint adhesion?

[miked2]

FWIW, IMHO, I have tried Quik Detailer, Final Inspection, and Nxt Speed Detailer. Can't tell the difference. My car has a sealant on it, followed by a coat of wax (typically #26), and sometimes a spray wax. All three products clean the smudges, and restore a bit of gloss as well. All three products are very easy to use.

Also have used all threes as lubes while claying without diluting without any problems. Indeed, I believe that Meg's packages QD in particular with their consumer clay kits, and I'd be surprised if they are instructing consumers to dilute the product.

Currently I'm using Final Inspection, just because I bought a gallon of the product for economy's sake. I may move to the Detailer line Last Touch, since it's even cheaper!

Of course, YMMV. It may be worth doing an A-B comparison. This is something I haven't done, but when using one product after having finished another, I just can't tell a difference based on what my memory says the other product was like.

My own thoughts, guesses, and conjectures are that you basically first had QD and Final Inspection, the former for consumers, and the latter for professionals, available in a gallon size, and guaranteed body-shop safe. Then Meg's introduced Nxt Tech Wax, and I'm guessing that Nxt Speed Detailer, while good on its own, is most synergistic with Nxt TW, which is why it was introduced (and don't discount the marketing aspect to it -- there's something to be said for letting consumers feel comfortable staying "within a line" for car care). (I haven't tried Nxt TW, so I can't comment on it.) Meg's then introduced a Detailer's Line of products, and it made sense to include a quick detailer there as well -- it may not be body-shop safe (not important unless you're painting), hence the lower price on the product. Again, take all this with a grain of salt -- just my guesses as to how the products were developed and why there are so many, and I could be (am probably am) completely wrong!

That said, I firmly believe and would be surprised if it was not true that all of these products are more similar than different . . . . it may not be worth agonizing over the details and differences of the products, but just buy one, see if it works for you, and go from there. Next time you need to re-stock, buy a different one, and see if you think it's better . . . . . again, my eyes and my experience has been that I just can't tell the difference!

[matt colvin]

I noticed in the description for QD that rmpotocki listed,

Quick Detailer: Removes fine scratches on clear coat paints, enhances color and extends the durability of car wax. Nice gloss and slickness, best selling detailer in it's class. Too slick by itself for Claying, so should be cut 1:1 (according to these forums).

I'm not sure that I have read anywhere on this forum that QD can/should be cut (diluted 1:1). I may be incorrect, please correct me if I am. It definitely doesn't say so on the bottle that I have.

Also, QD says no where on the bottle that it "removes scratches", so I have no clue where that part came from. It, and the rest of Meg's detail sprays, are meant to either provide a quick touchup to a nearly clean surface, or to provide a lubricant for claying. That is about the extent of safe and practical uses for these types of products.

[Mike Phillips]

Originally posted by matt colvin
I noticed in the description for QD that rmpotocki listed,

I'm not sure that I have read anywhere on this forum that QD can/should be cut (diluted 1:1). I may be incorrect, please correct me if I am. It definitely doesn't say so on the bottle that I have.

That's for our Last Touch mist & wipe product on our Professional Detailer line, it's because the product is slippery enough that it will lubricate the surface too much making it more difficult for a clay bar to do it's job, (that is remove above surface bonded contaminants).

Also, QD says no where on the bottle that it "removes scratches", so I have no clue where that part came from.

It's not on the product label, but it is on the meguiars.com e-store, here's the link and here's the wording.

http://www.meguiars.com/?car-maintenance/Quik-Detailer

Meguiar’s Quik Detailer can be used anytime, anywhere to remove fresh contaminants before they have time to bond or etch into your paint finish. Removes fine scratches on clear coat paints, enhances color and extends the durability of your car wax. Use with our Microfiber Quik Detail Pad or Supreme Shine Microfiber for eye-dazzling results.


I'll check to see if that's the correct wording that's supposed to go with that product, it doesn't sound right.

It, and the rest of Meg's detail sprays, are meant to either provide a quick touch-up to a nearly clean surface, or to provide a lubricant for claying. That is about the extent of safe and practical uses for these types of products.

Good summary.

[matt colvin]

Thanks Mike.

Sorry, but when I said "QD", I meant Quik Detail Spray. I should have written it out.

[rmpotocki]

Hi.

All of the information I quoted was right from the Meguiars web site, the thread that Mike listed above, or from various other threads in the Meg forums. If I stated something incorrectly, I apologize. I have read too much lately and may be getting some facts mixed up.

Hey, thanks for the feedback. Take care.